1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
And some say they were confused by what their leases said about renters’ insurance, and they were left without coverage.
—
Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025
The crash appears to have been caused by the teen confusing the gas and brake pedals, Laguna Beach police Lt. Jesse Schmidt said.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
For instance, if a robotaxi were stuck in a crowded pedestrian area and confused about what to do next, a human teleoperator could take over and guide it, the source said.
—Chris Kirkham, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Map their journey to spot every gap, make buying effortless with fewer steps, communicate clearly so no one gets confused, add personal touches that create connection, and follow up fast to turn buyers into advocates.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025
The crash appears to have been caused by the teen confusing the gas and brake pedals, Laguna Beach police Lt. Jesse Schmidt said.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
For instance, if a robotaxi were stuck in a crowded pedestrian area and confused about what to do next, a human teleoperator could take over and guide it, the source said.
—Chris Kirkham, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Map their journey to spot every gap, make buying effortless with fewer steps, communicate clearly so no one gets confused, add personal touches that create connection, and follow up fast to turn buyers into advocates.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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Lynskey says she’s been bewildered by the fans who’ve directed online vitriol at Shauna this season, while seemingly forgiving the sins of Shauna’s husband Jeff (Warren Cole) and the heinous crimes committed by Misty (Christina Ricci).—
Todd Longwell,
Variety,
2 June 2025
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Both were bewildered by this fashion design travesty.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Adding another first rounder this summer would have complicated both the team’s rotation and salary structure.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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The budget bill championed by President Donald Trump could complicate next year’s tax filing season after the IRS lost one-quarter of its employees through staffing cuts, an independent watchdog reported Wednesday.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
Verb
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That said, we could be mistaken in our evaluation and investors may be inclined to pay a premium for AVAV, influenced by the increasing demand for drones, broadening applications, new product offerings, and the recent BlueHalo acquisition.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Additionally, this opens up an entirely new mystery; the team still can't quite explain how Relay 2 managed to fire off a signal that could be mistaken for an FRB.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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And best of all, no one could possibly be embarrassed by these empathetic words.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
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Alyssa seems terrified but doesn’t embarrass herself.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Globally, heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather are disrupting supply chains, inflating food prices, and undermining financial stability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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These attacks don’t just disrupt operations but also expose deeply personal financial information that can fuel identity theft, fraud and long-term reputational damage.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
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The stock comeback of the last two months has perplexed many investors, who remain befuddled by the market's insistence to look past conflict, tariffs and major challenges to the economic outlook, to make short work of recovering losses from their April lows.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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That wasn't enough to heal Carol's injury, however, leaving her owner perplexed about how to help the pup.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Part of that brand was to label it a ‘spirit,’ blurring the psychological lines between an alcoholic beverage and a THC one.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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At a sunny oceanfront venue, the line between a vacation-ready, potentially too-casual sundress and appropriate wedding-guest attire blurs.—
Catie Pusateri,
Glamour,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Golden State forced Clark into deep 3-point jumpers and flustered the visiting team with tenacious defense in the paint.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
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This means they are not flustered by travel and seem to flourish no matter the surface or circumstances.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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